Driving in Nepal

When a foreign visitor takes his car to Nepal, he must have car registration certificate and insurance document, original driver license and International driving permit, passport size photographs, and passport. A car owner has to be in the car when it crosses over. All these papers and permits must be kept by a foreign driver when driving in Nepal as check posts are common in Nepal.An International driving permit is valid in Nepal for 15 days, after that period Nepali driver license is required. A temporary Nepali driver license is available on presentation of a valid national driver license. Foreign drivers who do not have International driving permits need to obtain Nepal driver licenses.

The main road traffic rules:

Seat-belt wearing is obligatory when driving.

The minimum driving age is 18 years.

Use of protective helmets to riders of motor cycles is mandatory.

Drinking and driving is prohibited; the permitted blood alcohol level is 0.0%. Breathalyzer tests are applied to check drinking and driving.

People who cannot hear sounds on the street are prohibited to drive.

It is not permitted to use cell phone while driving.

The police phone numbers are 100 and 103.

Some additional information:

Driving in Nepal is extremely difficult as most roads do not have lane markings.

Honking is used commonly on the roads.

In Nepal, there is one highway which connects its capital, Kathmandu, to India.

During the monsoon season from June to September, many of the mountain and hill roads are impassable.

Traffic jams are common on major city roads between 9:00 (9 a.m.) and 19:00 ( 7 p.m.).